West Brom to counter Russian racism toward striker

Published Sep. 10, 2010 1:19 p.m. ET

foxsports

West Bromwich Albion fans will unfurl a banner for striker Peter Odemwingie to counter an apparently racist one displayed at the Nigerian's former club, Lokomotiv Moscow.

Pictures were published last month of Russian fans displaying a banner emblazoned with ''Thanks West Brom'' with a picture of a banana after the black player left the club.

Danny Lynch of anti-racism group Kick It Out says that ''the banner was overtly racist.''

West Brom's banner, created with Kick It Out, reads ''Thanks Lokomotiv'' and is accompanied by a picture of Odemwingie celebrating his winner on his debut against Sunderland last month.

The banner will appear at Saturday's Premier League match against Tottenham.

''To see messages coming from Lokomotiv fans that were the sort of messages hurled towards black players over here in the '70s just shows how developed we are as a footballing nation,'' said West Brom fan Martin Greenwood, who orchestrated the response.